How to Turn on “Ok Google” on your Android Device

What is OK Google?

“OK Google” is the voice command used to activate Google Now voice search on your Android smartphone, as well as other Google devices such as its Google Glass smartglasses – As defined by pcadvisor.co.uk – Nov 11, 2014.
Google Now can be accessed by opening your phone’s Google Search app or Google Search widget and either tapping the microphone icon or saying “OK Google”. On some handsets (notably the Moto X) it even works when the phone is in sleep mode, while other phones have the search bar on the home screen, so you can say OK Google right there.

Turn on “Ok Google” on your Android

You can say “Ok Google” on your phone or tablet to start a voice search or have Google do something for you.Turn on “Ok Google”When you say “Ok Google,” it tells the Google app that you’re ready to start using your voice. To best use “Ok Google,” you need to update some settings.

Note: If you use the Google app on more than one device, you need to turn on “Ok Google” features on each device.

Turn on “Ok Google”

Make sure you have the latest version of the Google app. (To get the latest version, go to the Google app page on the Play Store and touch Update).
Open the Google app .
In the top left corner of the page, touch the Menu icon menu icon > Settings > Voice > “Ok Google” detection.
Check the box next to “From Google app.”
For certain devices, you can also change some settings to turn on “Ok Google” detection outside the Google app:

Check the box next to “From any screen” or “Always on.”
Follow the instructions to teach Google what your voice sounds like.

Note: The “From any screen” setting may prevent other voice services that use hotwords or wake up commands from working. For example, if you have a Samsung S6 and turn on S-Voice to use the wake up command “Hi Galaxy,” it may not work if “From any screen” is turned on.

“Ok Google” settings you can change

When you turn on “Ok Google,” there are a few settings you might be able to change depending on your device. Here’s what the terms mean:

From any screen: You can say “Ok Google” from any screen on your device if the screen is on or the device is charging.

Always-on: You can say “Ok Google” whether your screen is on or off on a Nexus 6, Nexus 9, or Samsung Note 4 device.

Trusted voice: When you say “Ok Google” from a secure lock screen and we’re able to recognize the sound of your voice, you can ask Google to do things for you or visit sites without having to unlock your device.

Personal results: See personal results for your voice searches, even when your device is locked.
Retrain voice model: Reteach Google the sound of your voice. Try this if Google isn’t recognizing your voice when you say “Ok Google.” If you don’t see this setting, make sure “From any screen” or “Always-on” is turned on.

Note: The “From any screen” setting may prevent other voice services that use hotwords or wake up commands from working. For example, if you have a Samsung S6 and turn on S-Voice to use the wake up command “Hi Galaxy,” it may not work if “From any screen” is turned on.